The Ultimate Guide to 11 Essential Grilling Tools

by Alessandra Bulow

on 06/11/14 at 04:12 PM

Whether you're an outdoor cooking novice or a seasoned barbecuer, trying to figure out which grilling tools you actually need can be completely baffling. In our quest to determine which items are truly the best, we turned to unbiased product testing reports, user reviews, and grilling experts to create the ultimate tool kit.

"The grill master's mantra is keep the grill hot, keep the grill clean, and keep the grill lubricated," says Steven Raichlen, BBQ guru and author of the new Man Made Meals: The Essential Cookbook for Guys. "Modern grilling tools are all about compensating for the mercurial nature of fire."

We also combed product user reviews and best-seller lists on Amazon.com and HomeDepot.com, AND considered the advice of pitmaster Chris Lilly of Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q in Decatur, Alabama. We also considered Raichlen's recommendations, including his own creations of the tools.

Since not everyone wants to cook over charcoal, we did a deep dive to find the top-rated gas grill. Testers at the Consumer Reports National Testing and Research Center couldn't find a single "performance flaw" with this grill. It's "easy to use" and "preheats quickly and evenly." Plus, it's "superb on high and low heat and indirect cooking." $650, amazon.com

3. Spring Loaded Tongs: Oxo Good Grips Locking Tongs

"A pair of tongs is the single most important tool you can buy," says Raichlen. These "easy to use," "comfortable and controllable" tongs come in 9-, 12-, and 16-inch lengths and have been the top pick of the Good Housekeeping Research Institute since 2010. Amazon.com users agree, praising its "stay-cool rubber handles" and "great balance and tension," and have made it the site's #1 bestselling tongs. $15 for 16-inch tongs, amazon.com

"To clean the grill properly, it needs to have a long handle so you won't burn your hands and the stainless steel bristles need to be firmly attached so they don't get in your food," says Raichlen. Although Raichlen likes the Grill Daddy, Consumer Reports was not impressed by the tool at all. Instead its testers recommend "using a spray bottle of water in conjunction with a regular grill brush." AmazingRibs.com and Amazon.com customers are fans of US Forge's inexpensive version. The bristles are able to "dislodge stubborn carbon deposits" and the brisles "never pop out."

5. Instant-Read Thermometer: Splash-Proof Super-Fast Thermapen

This grilling thermometer's "very slender probe" and "accurate read" makes it the tool of choice for BBQ pros like Chris Lilly of Bib Bob Gibson's in Decatur, AL, Harry Soo of Slap Yo' Daddy BBQ in Santa Ana, CA, and Raichlen. It's not only the #1 bestselling device on Amazon.com, it's also the highest rated one by users who call it "dead accurate" and praise its "digital display with large numbers that are easy to read." $96, amazon.com

6. Paper Towels: Bounty DuraTowel

"Keeping your grill lubricated is key so your food doesn't stick or burn," says Raichlen. "Instead of getting a grill oil brush, just use your tongs to swipe the grill with a paper towel dipped in oil." A Consumer Reports top pick, these paper towels won in a "landslide" during testing and got the top scores for "absorbency, scrubbing, and wet strength." They're almost a "no-brainer" pick, because they're "about twice the price" of other paper towels. Bounty towels also scored high with the Good Housekeeping Research Institute because they "won't shred" and "speedily sop up liquid." $12.50 for a pack of two rolls, amazon.com

7. Chimney Starter: Weber 7416 Rapidfire Chimney Starter

"If you're a charcoal griller, a chimney starter is the most efficient way to light charcoal," says Raichlen. Reviewers of this top-rated, bestselling device on Amazon.com call it "the gold standard of chimney starters," and say that it's "bigger, faster, and more durable" than other devices on the market. It's the top pick of the Good Housekeeping Research Institute and BBQ whisperer Craig "Meathead" Goldwyn of AmazingRibs.com. Goldwyn calls this starter "my fave" for two reasons: "it lasts longer than cheaper models" and "it's an excellent temperature controller for your cooking because it is also a measuring cup!" $15, amazon.com

"Suede is more resistant than cloth in fire and you want a pair that goes past your elbows," says Raichlen. These gloves with a 15-inch extra long cuff get 4.5- and 5-star ratings in user reviews on Amazon.com and Home Depot.com, respectively. Users enjoy the "comfortable cotton interior" but most importantly they're "great for protecting hands and forearms." Also, they've been rated #1 by Cook's Illustrated, and AmazingRibs.com's equipment tester raves "you can even use them to pick up hot coals!" $20, amazon.com

"It enables you to lift a hot grill grate," says Raichlen. "Many companies make them, but I think I make the best one." The Good Housekeeping Research Institute agrees: "it will save you from struggling with a hot grate." $18, amazon.com.

"This is a necessity for foods like fish, shrimp, and vegetables that that are hard to turn and are prone to breaking or sticking," says Raichlen. "I look for sturdy construction, an insulated handle, and one that holds the food firmly so it doesn't slide around." Consumer Reports' favorite version "can flip over lots of food with one turn." It's also a user favorite and best-seller on HomeDepot.com, with one user calling it "simple ease to the max!" $16, homedepot.com

"You hope you'll never need to use one, but you should always have it on hand," says Raichlen. This May, Consumer Reports tested three brands of fire extinguishers and none of them passed its rigorous tests. Since The Good Housekeeping Institute and the U.S. Fire Administration don't test fire extinguishers, we turned to Underwriters Labratories, an independent organization that calls itself a "not-for-profit product safety testing and certification organization." This version by Amerex is just one of the multi-purpose Class ABC fire extinguishers that's certified by UL. See a complete list here.$89, google.com.

What are your essential grilling tools? Tell us in the comments, below.